Trabuco Hills' softball team was 3-10-1 at one point this season, and Mustangs coach Erin Webber said she wondered if her team even had a shot at winning a single Sea View League game.

The Mustangs ended up winning 13 of their final 15 regular-season games, including a 2-0 victory over then-No. 1 El Toro in the regular-season finale. Trabuco Hills, which took second place in the Sea View League, made it to the second round in the CIF-SS Division I playoffs before losing to top-seeded Simi Valley, 1-0.

Trabuco Hills, which finished 18-12-1, started two juniors, two sophomores and five freshmen. Webber was able to help her young team turn its season around and she kept it going during an emotional time in the middle of the season.

Webber, who is in her fifth season as the Mustangs' coach, earned the award as the Register's 2008 softball coach of the year for all her hard work.

“Well, the beginning of the season our record showed how bad we were,” said Webber, who is a walk-on coach. “It was pretty grim at one point.”

The Friday before league play started, Webber put together a team-building exercise at the school, which included an obstacle course and other fun activities. Webber told her team the first half of the season did not exist. They were starting off with a clean slate heading into league play.

“The girls just really came around,” Webber said. “I give all the credit to the girls. They took to it and decided they wanted to start winning.”

The day before Trabuco Hills began its nine-game winning streak, first baseman Julianne Mendonca's mother, Pam, died after a long battle with cancer. An emotional Trabuco Hills team beat Foothill, 10-4, and North Torrance, 1-0, to take the Woodbridge/Victory Softball Classic the day of Mendonca's mom's funeral

“The girls just united in a common cause and came together,” Webber said.

Sophomore ace Kayla Massey is without a doubt the team's star player. Junior catcher Madi Geiger, freshman shortstop Kelsi Luttrell and Kristyn Summers join Massey to form the nucleus for Trabuco Hills.

With all that young talent, Trabuco Hills should be a top-10 team next season and in the hunt for the league title.

“Every year is different,” Webber said. “Hopefully, we can bring the same energy and excitement we had this year.”

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com